| The
Police Roll of Honour Trust provides the Roll of Honour
published for the National Police Memorial
Day.
This
is an annual event organised on the nearest Sunday to
St Michael's Day (September 29th) by the National
Police Memorial Day Trust, a separate Charity,
No. 1103000, which aims to:
- Remember
police officers who have been killed or died on duty
- Demonstrate
to relatives, friends and colleagues of fallen officers that their sacrifice
is not forgotten
- Recognize
annually the dedication to duty and courage displayed by police officers
For
further details visit their website at www.nationalpolicememorialday.org
Roll
of Honour
One hundred pages of the Memorial Day commemorative booklet
comprise the Roll of Honour, in which the
names and details of nearly 4,000 officers who have lost their lives in the line
of duty are published. Entries include a citation for each officer
showing rank, full name, date of death, age, brief circumstances of death and any
national honour or award.
In his Foreword to the inaugural
2004 National Police Memorial Day Roll of Honour, then Police Roll of Honour Trust Patron, HM Chief
Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Keith Povey QPM BA(Law), wrote:
When
viewed against the sum total of policing activity, deaths
on duty remain thankfully rare, but when one takes a
wider historical view the realisation that as many as
four thousand officers have made the ultimate sacrifice
is a truly sobering thought. Behind every name lies
a story of courage and devotion to duty, not to mention
a deep sense of loss; for the service, the country and,
above all, for friends, relatives and partners.
Policing
has always been more than just a job and as a consequence
has attracted to its ranks those who have a deep commitment
to the notion of public service. Of course, it is this
self-same instinct that often leads to police officers
and staff putting themselves in harms way to protect
others. This is one of the service’s greatest strengths,
but as is apparent does not come without a high, and
on occasions unbearable, price.
Remembering
the example of those who have gone before helps to shape
who we are and will become and whilst the memory of
those named in this Roll of Honour has always been so
deeply treasured by their individual families and local
communities, the Roll of Honour now provides a single
permanent tribute to them all. I am deeply honoured
to be associated with this dignified tribute to those
who have given their lives in the line of duty.
Sir Keith left us with the following quote from “Hallowed
Ground” by Thomas Campbell (Scottish Poet 1777-1844).
“TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE”
To
ascertain if an officer is remembered on the Roll of Honour
check
the CRITERIA for inclusion
and
VIEW
NAMES
via
the current police force areas
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